Examining the Dawes Severalty Act Of 1887 Essay Example

with tribes to purchase land, but the purchase was not confirmed until it was ratified by Congress. The government was allowed to resell the land to settlers, but the land was not allowed to exceed 160 acres. If the land went more than five years without occupancy, the homestead agreement was null and void.

Motivation and Outcome behind the Act Since the United States government had a history of killing the Native Americans, the Dawes Act was a form of reparations to the Native American nations. The direct motivation was to protect the existing Native American nations from further depletion. The outcome was, it established the first federal reservations for Native Americans. It provided a place for them to be protected and maintain their culture without being disturbed. New Relationship between the Native Americans and the United States

It seems as if the relationship between the United States government and the Native Americans was made even more precarious because of the stipulations and exclusions presented in the Act. For instance, why were some tribes banned altogether? How come a Native could only receive full citizenship if he or she renounced his or her culture? The tribes that were excluded in the Act had to have alienated the government from Native Americans even more. Also, how did the people who were left in a tribe after a member left to seek citizenship feel?

That could not have been a positive outcome for the tribe; many elders could see the United States trying to subvert their culture as a whole by simply offering a “better way of life” to any Native who accepted the

offer. I believe the government felt that it was extending the olive branch and the Native Americans felt the government was trying to culturally dilute their ways. Just a simple misunderstanding regarding a why of thinking could have alienated the two groups even more. This probably made the chasm between the government and the Natives even bigger.